2,000 people have been evacuated from their homes because of a fire in the Murcia sierra which was first reported at 11pm on Tuesday night.

The fire is known to have burnt out three properties and it is feared that the flames could reach the town of Portmán, close to the La Manga Golf Club in Cartagena.

There are no reports of any injuries, although Red Cross and 061 ambulances remain at the scene in case.

The high winds in the area are complicating the work of the fire fighters. They have sent ten trucks to the zone, and six forestry brigades are also fighting the flames. Airborne measures in the form of three helicopters and other planes were brought in at first light on Friday.

Mayor of La Unión which has also been affected, Francisco Bernabé, said ‘This is a disaster’. He confirmed to National Radio that all the population of Portmán had been evacuated, and described the wind in the zone as ‘tremendous’.
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